Article handling system

ABSTRACT

An article handling system is provided which includes means to receive a series of articles progressively, continuously, and at minimum linear acceleration; means to distribute the articles to a plurality of work stations progressively, continuously and at minimum linear acceleration, to halt each article at a respective work station for a given period, and to withdraw the articles progressively, continuously at minimum linear acceleration.

[451i Mar. 4, 1975 United States Patent [191 Rose et al.

[ ARTICLE HANDLING SYSTEM Primarv E.\'aminet--Stephen C. Bentley 75 l t.Rh dS.R Sh td,N.Y., 1 [Wen Ors ar C enec a y Attorney, Agent, orFtrm-Barlm lL. Kuch Burton P. Clark, St. George, Vt.

General Electric Company, Burlington, Vt.

July 9, 1973 [73] Assignee:

[22] Filed:

An article handling system is provided which includes means to receive aseries of articles progressively. continuously, and at minimum linearacceleration; means [2!] App]. No.: 377,396

89/1], 89/33 BA 89/33 CA to distribute the articles to a plurality ofwork stations int. progressively continuously and at minimum linearceleration, to halt each article at a respective work station for agiven period, and to withdraw the articles progressively, continuouslyat minimum linear acceleration.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Claims, 34 Drawing Figures3,741,069 6/l973 Stewart et al. 89/33 CA PATENTEWR 48s 3.868.884

SHEET 1 [IF 8 PATENTEOHAR 4:975

SHEET 2 0f 8 'I.I UHIHIHIIIII BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention This invention relates to an improved article handlingsystem, especially adapted to progressively and continuously advance aseries of articles to and from a plurality of work stations, at whicheach article, in turn, is halted for a predetermined period of time. Anembodiment is shown directed to an ammunition feed system for a batterygun.

2. Prior Art In U.S. Pat. No. 125,563 issued Apr. 9, 1872 to R. S.Gatling, there is shown the classic modern revolving battery gun. Astationary main cam is in a housing which encloses and supports arotating receiver assembly which has a plurality of barrels and a likeplurality ofchambers and bolts. Rounds of ammunition are serially passedthrough the housing and are handed to each bolt in turn as it passes thefeeding station. This principle of operation has become conventional, asshown, for example, in US. Pat. No. 2,849,921 issued Sept. 2, 1958 to H.McC. Otto and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,380,343 issued Apr. 30, 1968 to R. E.Chiabrandy et al. Another battery gun approach having a plurality ofstationary barrels, a like plurality of independent ammunition supplies,and a rotating transfer mechanism is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 563,701,issued July 7, 1896 to E. Wilder. Yet another approach, having aplurality of stationary barrels, a revolving plurality of chambers, anda rotating charge wheel operating within a spiral charging cam track, isshown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,959,106, issued Nov. 8, 1960 to J. F. OBrien.Still another approach is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,356 issued Mar.27, 1973 to D. P. Tassie, et al. Here a plurality of stationary barrelswith respective bolts are fed in sequence by a rotating distributorwhich was itself fed by a single train of cartridges. Shifting of thecartridges between the distributor and the bolts is affected by anintermittently operated, rectilinear-radially travelling, transfermechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide animproved system of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,356 abovementioned.

It is a further object to provide such a system which minimizes thelinear accelerations which are imposed on the rounds of ammunitionduring their transfer to and between the distributor and the bolts.

A feature of this invention is the provision of an article handlingsystem including means to receive a series of articles progressively,continuously and at minimum linear acceleration; means to distribute thearticles to a plurality of work stations progressively, continuously andat minimum linear acceleration, to halt each article at a respectivework station for a given period, and to withdraw the articlesprogressively, continuously and at minimum linear acceleration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING These and other objects, features andadvantages of the invention will be apparent from the followingspecification thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingin which:

FIG. I is a view in transverse eross'section ofa nonrotating" Gatlingtype gun embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in longitudinal cross-section of the gun in FIG. 1taken along a multi-folded plane IIII;

FIG. 3 is a view in transverse cross-section of the gun in FIG. 2 takenalong the plane IlIIIII;

FIGS. 4 through 34 are schematic views illustrating the cycle ofoperation of the disclosed embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The embodiment shown is anonrotating, Gatlingtype gun of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No.3,722,356. Two rolling sprockets are used to transfer the rounds fromthe annular distributor ring to the barrels and return. The firstsprocket transfers each fresh round from the distributor ring to therespective gun bolt. The second sprocket transfers each fired case fromthe respective gun bolt to the distributor ring. A feed sprocket and anoscillating guide, in conjunction, are used to hand off fresh rounds tothe distributor ring and to pick off fired cases from the distributorring.

The gun includes a stationary housing 10 having integral therewith astationary aft cover 12, a stationary re ceiver 14 with a plurality,here shown as five in number, of barrels 16, also identified as B1, B2,B3, B4 and B5. Each of the barrels has a respective bore 18 and achamber 20. A respective bolt guide slot 22 is aligned with each barreland carries a respective gun bolt 24.

A cylindrical drum 26 is journaled to the housing by fore and aftbearings 28 and 30 respectively. The drum 26 has a conventional helicalcam track 32 which receives the respective cam followers 34 of the gunbolts 24, so that as the drum 26 is rotated about the receiver 14, thecam track 32 acts upon the followers 34 to reciprocate the gun boltsfore and aft.

A distributor or retainer ring 36 is journaled to the housing 10 by foreand aft bearings 37 and 38 respectively. The ring has a plurality, hereshown as ten, of retainer vanes 40, providing a like plurality ofpassageways or pockets 42. Each passageway is adapted to receive a round44 of ammunition, is open centrifugally and centripetally, and is closedfore and aft by ring surfaces 46 and 48 respectively. Each passageway isbounded centrifugally by the inner surface 50 of the cover 12; and isbounded centripetally by the peripheral surfaces 52 and 54 of theannular guides 56 and 58 respectively, except in the areas interruptedby feeder and ejection sprockets and guides, which are integral with thedrum 26. Each passageway is also adapted to receive a fired case 60.

An inner drive tube 62 is journaled to the stationary receiver 14 byfore and aft bearings 64 and 66 respec tively. The forward face 68 ofthe tube 62 has a cam track 70 which receives the cam followers 72 of aplurality of bolt lock cross slides 74, one for each gun bolt 24. Thelocking system is similar to that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,690,215issued to B. P. Clark et al on Sept. 12, 1972, however, the cross-slideencompasses less than 360 of the periphery of the bolt to provideclearance for the nose of the round being handed to the bolt, therebypermitting a relatively short aft travel of the bolt for loading.

The housing 10 further includes a feeder passageway defined by a forwardwall 76, an aft wall 78, a right wall and a left wall 82. A feeder shaft84 is journaled to and between the forward and aft walls by fore and aftbearings 86 and 88 respectively. A two plate feeder sprocket 90 is fixedto the shaft 84 and has an odd numher, here shown as five, of roundreceiving cavities 92.

A guide vane assembly 96 has a transverse forward plate 98 and atransverse aft plate 100 fixed, by means of a longitudinally extendingweb 102, to the cylindrical drum 26.

A traveling feed sprocket shaft 106 is journaled to the cylindrical drum26 by a fore bearing 108, an intermediate bearing 110, and an aftbearing 112, and is journaled to the drive tube sector 104 by a bearing114. A travelling two plate feed sprocket 116, having a foreward plate118 and an aft plate 120, is fixed to the shaft 106. A traveling ejectsprocket shaft 122 is similarly jo ur naled to the cy lindrica ldrum 2 6and to the drive tube sector 104. A traveling two plate eject sprocket124 is similarly fixed to the shaft 122.

A stationary sun gear 126 is fixed to the aft end of the stationaryhousing 14. A double planetary gear is fixed on the feeder sprocketshaft 106 and has a forward gear 128 meshed with the sun gear 126 and anaft gear 130. An inner ring gear 132 is integral with the aft end of thedistributor ring 36 and is meshed with the gear 130. A similar doubleplanetary gear 134 is fixed on the eject sprocket shaft and is meshedbetween the sun gear 126 and the ring gear 132. A gear 136 is fixed tothe feeder shaft 84 and is meshed with an external ring gear 138integral with the distributor ring 36.

An oscillating guide 140 is disposed in a pocket 142 in the right wall80 of the stationary housing 10. The guide has a forward plate 144, anaft plate 146, and an aft arm 148 which has a cam follower roller 150.Each of the plates has respective arcuate guide surfaces 152 and 94. Theroller 150 rides in a cam track 154, formed into a transverse, annularface 160 in the distributor ring 36, and serves to reciprocate the guide140 radially to bring the guide surfaces 152 into and out of the path ofpassageways 42 in the retainer ring.

In an externally powered embodiment, a source of rotary power 156 iscoupled to the inner drive tube 62 and drives the tube about itslongitudinal axis 156 at an angular velocity w. The tube 62 carries theshafts 106 and 122, the guide vane assembly 96, and the cylindrical drum26 about the axis 158 at the same angular velocity w. Concurrently, theshafts 106 and 122 are rotated about their respective axes by theirrespective forward planet gears meshed with the stationary sun gear 126and respectively rotate the traveling feed sprocket assembly 116 and thetraveling eject sprocket assembly 124 about their respective areas. Therespective aft planet gears meshed with the ring gear 132 drive thedistributor ring 36 about the longitudinal axis at an angular velocityof 2w. The ring gear 138 meshed with the feeder gear 136 drives the mainfeeder sprocket assembly 90 at a peripheral velocity equal to theperipheral velocity of the annular row of passageways 42, so that around of ammunition from each cavity 92 of the feeder sprocket assemblyis handed off to every other passageway 42. The cam track 154 shifts theoscillating guide assembly 140 centrifugally for every other passagewayto clear the round of ammunition contained therein. As the travelingfeed sprocket assembly 116 rides around within the distributor ring 36at one half the angular velocity of the ring it successively picks eachround out of its respective passageway, carries the round about its ownsprocket longitudinal axis and hands the round off to a respective bolt24, as shown in the lower half of FIG. 2. The cam track 32 drives thebolt forward to chamber the round and tally to deflect the'fired casefrom the passageway 42' the cam track shifts the cross-slide 74 to lockthe bolt as shown in the upper half of FIG. 2. The round is fired byconventional firing means, such as an electrical distributor circuit.The cam track 70 shifts the crossslide 74 to unlock the bolt. The camtrack 32 drives the bolt aft to extract the fired case. The travelingeject sprocket assembly 124 picks off the tired case from the bolt,carries the case around its own sprocket longitudinal axis and hands thefired case off into an empty passageway 42 in the distributor ring 36.The fired case is carried to the main feeder sprocket assembly as thecam track 150 shifts the oscillating guide 140 centripeinto a cavity 92in the feeder sprocket.

The transfer of the rounds and fired cases is accomplished by thetraveling feeder and eject sprockets with zero initial and terminallinear velocities, as the theoretical point of contact of a cylinderwith a tangential surface is zero. This affords a delicate handling ofthe rounds, with minimal acceleration loadings.

The cycle of operation of the mechanism is shown in FIGS. 4 through 34.FIG. 4 shows the mechanism in starting position. Each successive figureadvances the guide vane assembly 96, the traveling feeder sprocketassembly 116 and the traveling eject sprocket assembly 124 by 36. Sincethe distributor ring 36 rotates at twice the velocity of the drive tube,each successive figure advances the distributor ring 72. Since thetraveling feeder sprocket and the traveling eject sprocket roll aroundthe drive tube, they will each rotate relative to the guide vane. Thetraveling eject sprocket is (3/4)(360/n) degrees ahead of the travelingfeed sprocket, where n is the number of gun barrels. Thus (3/4) (360/5)54. Since the angular velocity of the distributor ring is twice theangular velocity of the guide vane, the fired cases will always bedeposited (l/2)(360/n) degrees or l/2)(360/5) 36 behind the passagewayscontaining fresh rounds of ammunition. Since the passageways are spaced36 apart, fired cases and fresh rounds will occupy alternatepassageways. Each successive figure also shows the advance of the mainfeeder sprocket by 144. A fresh round reaches the sprocket 90 every 288,or every fourth cavity 92.

FIGS. 4 through 34 describe three complete cycles of the mechanism.During the first cycle gun barrels B2 and B4 do not receive rounds.During each succeeding cycle all gun barrels B1 through B5 receiverounds. The successive rounds are numbered R1 through R16. Live roundsare cross-hatched and fired casesare doublecross-hatched.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine gun comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of gun barrels fixed to said housing in an annular row abouta central axis, each barrel having a respective chamber and gun bolt;

a rounds distributor ring journalled to said housing for rotation aboutsaid central axis,

said ring having a first plurality of first pockets disposed in an annular row about said central axis, and a second plurality of secondpockets disposed in an annular row about said central axis;

a feeder sprocket journalled to said housing for rotation about anadditional axis for receiving rounds and for discharging fired cases;

guide means journalled to said housing for oscillation between a firstposition whereat it guides a round from said feeder sprocket into one ofsaid first pockets, and a second position whereat it guides a fired casefrom one of said second pockets into said feeder sprocket; and

transfer means journalled to said housing for rotation about saidcentral axis and having first means for transferring rounds from saidfirst plurality of pockets to said gun bolts, and second means fortransferring fired cases from said gun bolts to said second plurality ofpockets.

2. A gun according to claim 1 further including:

a cam follower coupled to said guide means;

a cam driver journalled to said housing for rotation about said centralaxis for driving said cam follower.

3. A gun according to claim 1 further including:

drive means for rotating said distributor ring, for rotating saidtransfer means at twice the angular rate of said distributor ring, andfor oscillating said guide means.

4. A machine gun comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of gun barrels fixed to said housing in an annular row abouta central axis, each barrel having a respective chamber and gun bolt;

a rounds distributor ring journalled to said housing for rotation aboutsaid central axis, said ring having a first plurality offirst pocketsdisposed in an an:

an annular row about said central axis;

a feeder sprocket journalled to said housing for rotation about anadditional axis for receiving rounds and for discharging fired cases;

guide means coupled to said housing for guiding rounds from said feedersprocket into said first plurality of first pockets and for guidingfired cases from said second plurality of second pockets into saidfeeder sprocket; and

transfer means journalled to said housing for rotation about saidcentral axis and having first means for transferring rounds from saidfirst plurality of pockets to said gun bolts. and second means fortransferring fired cases from said gun bolts to said second plurality ofpockets.

5. A gun according to claim 4 further including:

drive means for rotating said distributor ring, and for rotating saidtransfer means at twice the angular rate of said distributor ring.

6. A gun according to claim 4 wherein:

said first means of said transfer means includes a first sprocketjournalled for rotation about its own axis and for travelling along apath which is concentric with said central axis, and for directlycooperating with said first plurality of pockets and for cooperatingwith said gun bolts,

said second means of said transfer means includes a second sprocketjournalled for rotation about its own axis and for travelling along apath which is concentric with said central axis, and for directlycooperating with said second plurality of pockets and for cooperatingwith said gun bolts.

1. A machine gun comprising: a housing; a plurality of gun barrels fixedto said housing in an annular row about a central axis, each barrelhaving a respective chamber and gun bolt; a rounds distributor ringjournalled to said housing for rotation about said central axis, saidring having a first plurality of first pockets disposed in an annularrow about said central axis, and a second plurality of second pocketsdisposed in an annular row about said central axis; a feeder sprocketjournalled to said housing for rotation about an additional axis forreceiving rounds and for discharging fired cases; guide means journalledto said housing for oscillation between a first position whereat itguides a round from said feeder sprocket into one of said first pockets,and a second position whereat it guides a fired case from one of saidsecond pockets into said feeder sprocket; and transfer means journalledto said housing for rotation about said central axis and having firstmeans for transferring rounds from said first plurality of pockets tosaid gun bolts, and second means for transferring fired cases from saidgun bolts to said second plurality of pockets.
 2. A gun according toclaim 1 further including: a cam follower coupled to said guide means; acam driver journalled to said housing for rotation about said centralaxis for driving said cam follower.
 3. A gun according to claim 1further including: drive means for rotating said distributor ring, forrotating said transfer means at twice the angular rate of saiddistributor ring, and for oscillating said guide means.
 4. A machine guncomprising: a housing; a plurality of gun barrels fixed to said housingin an annular row about a central axis, each barrel having a respectivechamber and gun bolt; a rounds distributor ring journalled to saidhousing for rotation about said central axis, said ring having a firstplurality of first pockets disposed in an annular row about said centralaxis, and a second plurality of second pockets disposed in an annularrow about said central axis; a feeder sprocket journalled to saidhousing for rotation about an additional axis for receiving rounds andfor discharging fired cases; guide means coupled to said housing forguiding rounds from said feeder sprocket into said first plurality offirst pockets and for guiding fired cases from said second plurality ofsecond pockets into said feeder sprocket; and transfer means journalledto said housing for rotation about said central axis and having firstmeans for transferring rounds from said first plurality of pockets tosaid gun bolts, and second means for transferring fired cases from saidgun bolts to said second plurality of pockets.
 5. A gun according toclaim 4 further including: drive means for rotating said distributorring, and for rotating said transfer means at twice the angular rate ofsaid distributor ring.
 6. A gun according to claim 4 wherein: said firstmeans of said transfer means includes a first sprocket journalled forrotation about its own axis and for travelling along a path which isconcentric with said central axis, and for directly cooperating withsaid first plurality of pockets and for cooperating with said gun bolts,said second means of said transfer means includes a second sprocketjournalled for rotation about its own axis and for travelling along apath which is concentric with said central axis, and for directlycooperating with said second plurality of pockets and for cooperatingwith said gun bolts.